Elizabeth Gerber, an associate professor of mechanical engineering in the Robert R. McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science, holds a joint appointment with the School of Communication, serving as an assistant professor of technology and social behavior in the communication studies department. Gerber’s research interests include design, innovation management, and organizational behavior. She teaches undergraduate and graduate classes on product and service design, which emphasize the design thinking methodology—a human-centered, problem-solving approach focused on gaining inspiration from human needs, working in diverse groups to generate ideas, and prototyping ideas for rapid feedback. Gerber also advises students in the award-winning design initiative she founded called Design for America, where students take on extracurricular design work to make social and local impact.

Education

• PhD, Management Science & Engineering, Stanford University
• MS, Engineering & Product Design, Stanford University
• BA, Art & Engineering, Dartmouth College